Michigan Judge John Chmura allegedly couldn’t recite alphabet after crash: video

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Michigan Judge Arrested for Drunk Driving After Crashing into Bus

In a shocking turn of events, a Michigan judge, John Chmura, found himself in hot water after crashing his car into a bus while driving under the influence. The incident, which took place in March in Sterling Heights, a suburb north of Detroit, was captured on bodycam footage, revealing Chmura’s alarming state.

Chmura, a 63-year-old judge with three decades of experience on the bench, was allegedly driving with a blood alcohol content of more than twice the legal limit when he rear-ended a public SMART bus. The footage showed him struggling to count backwards and even recite the alphabet, raising serious concerns about his impaired state.

The judge was unable to count backwards or recite the alphabet after a crash in March. Sterling Heights PD

Upon stumbling out of his car, Chmura immediately identified himself as a judge to the responding officers. He admitted to coming from an event and acknowledged that he had consumed too much alcohol. Subsequent field sobriety tests revealed his impaired state, with Chmura struggling to perform basic tasks like counting backwards and reciting the alphabet.

Chmura’s blood alcohol content was later confirmed to be 0.162%, well above the legal driving limit of 0.08% in Michigan. A blood test conducted later showed an even higher BAC of over 0.19%, according to reports.

John Chmura has been a judge in Michigan’s 37th District Court in Warren since 1996. 37th District court

Chmura was subsequently arrested and charged with driving under the influence with a BAC of 0.17% or higher. The case has been assigned to a St. Clair County prosecutor due to Chmura’s oversight of cases brought by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.

Two bus passengers sustained minor injuries in the crash, highlighting the potential dangers of driving under the influence. Chmura, who was reelected unopposed in 2024, is scheduled to appear in court again in August to face the charges against him.

Defense attorney David Kramer, representing Chmura, emphasized his client’s reputation as a respected jurist and stated that they would address the case as it unfolds. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of driving under the influence, even for individuals in positions of authority.